How much should health insurance cost?

Insurers and patients squared off in a tense hearing at the state Capitol on Monday over carriers’ request for major rate increases.

Patients accused companies of being “insatiably greedy,” but insurers said they have no choice because of rising health care costs and uncertain policies from the Trump administration.

Deb Dauphinias runs a small bicycle shop in Glastonbury. She didn’t mince words about paying more for health insurance.

“While much of their customer base struggles financially, the insatiably greedy insurance companies want more,” she told a Connecticut Insurance Department hearing.

Individual plans could jump an average of 17.8% – twice what insurers asked for a year ago. ConnectiCare rates could jump the most, between 5.9% and 28.6%, depending on the plan. Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield is asking for 6.4-22.8% more, while United Healthcare requested a 9.2-16.3% increase.

“In 2025, I now am paying $2,309 a month,” said Tonya Maurer, a patient from Hebron. “How many of you are paying that?”

The increases would impact about 225,000 Connecticut residents who purchase their own policies. Coverage through most employers is regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor, not the state of Connecticut.

Click HERE to see each carriers’ request.

Why the sharp increase? There was a lot of finger-pointing on Monday.

Insurers blamed higher drug prices, more people going to the doctor and state mandated coverage for certain procedures. Connecticut health care costs exceeded the state target for third straight year, according to the Office of Health Strategy.

But insurers said the biggest cost driver is hospitals demanding bigger payments.

“[The rate increases] reflect what we consider to be the most significant challenge facing the marketplace today – the increasing cost of health care,” said Anthem sales director Brandon Rousseau.

Hospitals admitted that they’re charging more. But they pointed the finger at the government, arguing that reimbursements for Medicare and Medicaid are chronically low.

“Unlike many other industries, hospitals cannot absorb these losses or make cuts without directly or indirectly impacting patient care,” Mark Schaefer with the Connecticut Hospital Association told the panel.

Hospital leaders also blamed a chronic nursing shortage for driving up costs.

Health care leaders warned that things could get even worse.

President Donald Trump is promising new tariffs on prescription drugs. And as Washington makes deep cuts to Obamacare, thousands of healthy patients could drop out.

“For those existing or new members who elect coverage, their rates will need to increase significantly to make up for the loss of healthy members in the risk pool,” said ConnectiCare president Mark Meador. “These costs continue to increase as hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other providers demand higher reimbursement.”

Access Health CT, the state’s insurance exchange, estimated that 35% of enrollees could lose coverage over the next decade.

None of this is a done deal. You can submit testimony HERE.

The Connecticut Insurance Department will make a final decision on rates next month, and is likely to approve much smaller increases. By law, CID can only reject rates if they are excessive or discriminatory.

The new prices will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.